One White Spot each for All Three Goldfish  1/8/06 Hi Crew, <Brandon> I need help!  I have read the site's FAQs over and over again and can't pin down my problem. I have three goldfish in a cold water planted tank with Hornwort and Anacharis.  I have had them for 3 years. I use Jungle Lab's test strips once a week: ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrate = 20ppm, Hardness (GH) = 150ppm (hard according to test).  Both Alkalinity and pH have drop one level during the past couple of weeks from Alkalinity (KH) - 120 (ideal according to test) to 80 (moderate) and pH 7.8  drop to 7.2.  My tap water had been testing at 120 and 7.8, but I retested it and it is 80 and 7.2 now.  I do 35% water change every weekend using a gravel washer. <I'd reduce this to a maximum change-out of about a quarter of the volume> I wrote in two weeks ago with a swim bladder problem.  Per Mr. Fenner's advice I have discontinued the dry food and everything is fine.  Thank you!!! <Welcome> Now my problem.  My smallest fish also had a white spot I believe to be too big for Ich.  Sometimes it is easier to see then others, too.  The single spot is only at the end of his tail and is about the size of an" o" in 10 font.  Now my other two guys have single white spots too.  My big guy has one on his forehead and the other fish has one spot on the end of his tail.  The spots on the tail look cottony.  The spot on the forehead looks like a pimple. <Good descriptions> My problem is identifying the white spot.  Since there is only one spot each is it Ich or a fungus? <No> What do you recommend for treatment? <Nothing in the way of "medicine"... just ongoing good husbandry. The spots are "nothing"... better to think of them as "pimples"> I don't have a QT so would an extended bathes in something be wise? <No. More damage than worth... will not effect "cure" here... just time going by will> Thanks for your help! Brandon <Again, welcome. Bob Fenner>
Re: One White Spot each for All Three Goldfish  - 01/09/2006 Thanks again Mr. Fenner! <Welcome> Your site and email responses are awesome!  I can't fully express my thanks in an email.  I got your book, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, for Christmas and love it.  I'm doing all my research to get started with the saltwater part of our hobby.  I recommend your site to everyone hobbyist I know. <Ahh, I do hope/trust it is of use/worth> Just wanted to say thanks again for both replies, your site, and your book. Thanks, Brandon <Thank you for your kind, encouraging words. Bob Fenner>

Goldfish Question  1/8/06 Hi, I recently added new fish to my tank and some of the fish I bought and the original ones developed Ick.  I am now treating all the fish with Quick Cure. <I would not use this product here... the formalin is too toxic overall... killing your biological filter. Just use the other component (Malachite Green) which you can buy separately, and possibly salt... this is a much safer cure> My question is one of my red cap Orandas cut his lower lip.  His bottom lip is cut in half and is very red.  I am going to buy MelaFix to cure this is this correct?   <I would not... for reasons gone over and over on WWM. Go there and read re these medications and Goldfish Disease... and soon... before you kill your livestock. Bob Fenner>

Sick Goldfish Getting Worse   1/7/06 Hi there, I need help!  I have read all of your FAQ regarding goldfish, and have followed what you guys have said about medications and what not.  We  (my hubby and I) have a 48 gallon corner tank with a Fluval (2nd largest)  filtration system and an air-pump powering one 16" bubble wall at medium speed  (air controller thingy).  I have 8 goldfish - which I know you are shaking  your head saying that it's too much - well aware... got them before I read your  site.   Everything has been fine and dandy for the last month or so.   Hubby tests the water on a weekly basis, all results are within normal  ranges.  However, our goldfish now have septicemia.  All of  them!  We are treating with CopperSafe (1x monthly as prescribed), Maracide  (every other day for 5 days), and Maroxy (5 consecutive days)... all of which  are recommended for the symptoms, both on your site and on the Mardel  pamphlets.  They have bleeding, cotton-like tufts, and external  parasites.  We are now on day 3 of treatment and they are only getting  worse - now they are losing scales - which has never happened before.  We  are at a loss and have considered a 90% water change, but the Mardel pamphlets  suggest a 25% water change after the 5 days of treatment. Goldie Hawn (Veil  Tail), Chesty Puller (Calico Fantail), Panda (panda Oranda), Simba (American  Lionhead), Ron Weasly (Yes after Harry Potter's Ron because he is all white with  a red head from his eyes to his gills - Comet), Ryu (Ryukin), Riley (Comet), and  Poley (Comet) all send their hellos!  Please help us as soon as  possible. Thanks, Susii & Erik < These bacterial infections are brought on by excessive nitrogenous waste. Check the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. The medication has probably killed the good bacteria and the waste from the fish is causing an ammonia and or a nitrite spike. As the fish get weaker the bacteria feed off the stress and the fish get worse. Change 50% of the water, vacuum the gravel and clean the filters. Do not feed the fish for a few days. Treat with Nitrofuranace as per the directions on the package. When the fish are cured then add good carbon to the water to remove the medication. Add Bio-Spira from Marineland and start to feed the fish again.-Chuck>

Goldfish Got Hungry   1/7/06 I left my goldfish for a few days on their own, I left a tablet in the aquarium which says is suitable for 2 weeks, we then noticed that they were quite lethargic on day eight, then I noticed that 1 of my fish's eye was mostly gone but there was flesh and blood coming out of the socket and I saw what looked like flesh in one of the other fishes mouths and eating it. We put the one eyed fish on its own in a pot, he is alive but barely moving. What will I do? < Keep the water clean and watch for infection. You might want to treat it Nitrofuranace as a preventative. Not much else you can do. The eye will not grow back.-Chuck>

New Goldfish Causing Problems  - 1/6/06 Hi, I have 3 Oranda's, a Red Cap, a Calico and a Red/Golden Oranda, and also a Black Moor.  I have had the 4 fish for around a year and they are all fit and healthy.  About a week ago I got another fish from my sister's tank as she did not want her fish anymore.  I'm not exactly sure what type it is but it's white and orange and is either an Oranda or a fantail (I can never tell the difference!)  The new fish is older then my fish and seems to be slower and fatter.  I think it may also have a dodgy fin as it finds it hard to turn round.  I am slightly concerned as the new fish seems to always have it's head pointing downwards and it's bottom in the air.  I thought it may be swim bladder, and so treated the tank for internal bacteria, but there has been no improvement.  My main concern however is that since I have introduced the new fish to the tank the Black Moor has started to bully and pick on the new fish.  The other fish seem to be getting on fine with the new one, but the Black Moor has turned really aggressive and chases the new fish round the tank biting it's fins and body and cornering the new fish against the sides of the tank and the ornaments. I do not know what to do and I am really worried that the new fish may get ill by the bullying as it is older than the others. Please help. Thanks, Ellie < When new fish are introduced there is always some realignment in the pecking order. The black moor is probably feeling challenged and what to make sure everybody knows who is number 1. Rearrange the ornaments and the rocks in the tank and this should break up established territories and boundaries.-Chuck>

Sick Goldfish  - 1/6/06 I have two goldfish and am not sure on the sex of either one.  One of them has gotten really fat, however, and really lazy. She (I call her she) just kind of lays on the rocks and tries to swim, but it seems to be a struggle. Her boyfriend swims by her all day and nudges her trying to help her move. Its really sweet.  She has red spots on her sides that look like she's bleeding on the inside.  Is she possibly pregnant or is she sick? < Sick> If she is sick is there something I can do?  Thank you so much!  -Corrie- < Start by doing a 50% water change, vacuum the gravel and clean the filter. If the red spots continue to get worse and grow then your fish has a bacterial infection and needs to be treated with Nitrofuranace or Myacin. Follow the directions on the package.-Chuck>

Re: Goldfish  - 1/6/06 Hello again everyone! <Hi, Jon!> I am somewhat concerned about my 7 year old comet goldfish. He has always been a very active fish usually busy in his tank, but for the last few days he has been hovering up in the corner just below the surface facing the outflow of the filter. He periodically will swim down but always returns to his same spot. I cant quite tell if its a buoyancy problem or what, but I do not want anything to happen to my fish. He seems a tad lethargic, but still eats. <For one, please do take a look here, in case this is nutritional: http//www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm .> Here's everything to know. -Comet Goldfish -10 gallon tank -Whisper Micro (in tank) filter -Bubble wall (Don't know if this could be the cause? This was a new addition) <New addition, new behaviour - it's plausible.> -has been eating Wardley's Goldfish Flakes his whole life. <Please....  Consult the article I linked for you.> -no heater. ( I was told its not needed,) <Your were told correctly.> Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite all at 0 ppm I know similar posts were submitted but were not really my situation. <Might try turning down/off the bubble wall, and see what happens.> Thanks so much -Jon <And the follow up, sent very shortly after the above:> Good News! <Excellent!> I shut off my Bubble wall last night and this morning the goldfish is grand! <Ah, good!> Thanks anyway for all your insight! <Do please consider that nutrition article, as well.> -Jon <All the best to you, -Sabrina>

Spots On A Goldfish  - 1/6/06 We have two new Ryukin goldfish in a 10 gallon filtered tank with an airstone. One of the fish has black on the tail and some black spots on their  body. Is this a fungus of some sort? And if so or if not, what is it and what do  we need to do to treat it? We lost our favorite fantail after 2 1/2 years just a few months ago (these fish are my 5 yr old daughters love) and don't want to lose another one if we can help it. Thanks so much, Mrs. M < Young goldfish can change colors as they grow. I would not treat it as a disease unless it started to grow and the fish began to act differently, clamped fins, red spots, etc...-Chuck> 

Goldfish With A Black Eye   1/4/06 Yup I feed them one piece of lettuce and some of their food each day. I occasionally give them peas. One of my fish has an eye that is all black, is this normal? If not, how can I fix it. < With goldfish coloration being so variable it could be normal. It light of you recent problems I would recommend watching it closely to see if the goldfish can still see out of the eye.-Chuck>
Goldfish With Problem Eye II   1/4/06 How would I know if it can see through that eye? < Approach the fish from both the good side and the bad side with a net and see if the response is the same. If the eye is bad then it can't see the net to get away.-Chuck>

Goldfish With Torn Fin  1/1/06 Hi! I purchased a Redcap Oranda Goldfish (Brainiac!) a few days ago. I bought the fish with a slight tear in his tail. He seems perfectly healthy....eating, swimming and his overall appearance, however the small tear is turning a slight reddish/brown on the edges...is this something that will heal on its own? Is there specific drops or medicine I should add to the water? Thank you for your help. I appreciate it! Michelle < If the water is clean then it should heal on its own. A reddish or cotton appearance means that it is getting infected and should be treated with Nitrofuranace.-Chuck> 

Goldfish ... loss 12/30/2005 Hi, <Hello there> I have emailed a couple of times before, I got 4 goldfish in April/May and as a newcomer sought advice from you which I found to be excellent. I noticed on boxing day the water in the tank was a bit 'cloudy' so I panicked and changed it - I don't think I left the water from the tap in the buckets long enough for the chlorine/chloride (?) or whatever it is to evaporate out. <Yikes... if much percentage change (like more than a fifth) you really should add a dechloraminator... made for making mains/tapwater safe for aquatic life use> That night one of my fishies Sam was floating around - he was a red cap Oranda and has had swimbladder before so I thought maybe had had a bout of it again. Having all the potions for it I thought he would be ok. Then I noticed my orange goldfish flipping about and it ended up floating around on its side? <Not good> and then the other littler one did the same but they weren't dead because I could see their little mouths moving... and the last goldfish a browny one I called brandy was just on the bottom doing nothing. 3 died that night in front of my eyes and I had to get my brother to get rid of them I just couldn't take them out the tank. Its strange how you get attached to these little creatures. <Our "original nature" is to be compassionate. Latin for "to bear pain with"> I knew something was wrong but didn't know what to do - I presume I had poisoned them. <Yes, likely so> All I did was sit next to the tank and cry as one by one they died. The little brown one was still at the bottom and I didn't have the heart to kill it to put it out of its misery - so the next day I got my brother to look in the tank and brandy was floating about dead, but he said his skin was hanging off? I had left it there to suffer and I feel terrible about it now. I just didn't know what to do. I cant believe I have been so stupid and put 4 perfectly healthy fishes through so much pain and sorrow and give them a terrible death. I have cleaned the tank out and moved all the ornaments and filters and accessories away into a cupboard so I cant see them. I cant face doing this again. Maybe in a year or so I might get some more but I just feel so guilty about what I did. Especially the redcap Sam - I got quite attached to him and now I've killed him and put him through pure agony. Thanks for all your helpful advice throughout the summer - your site is truly a marvel and I had some superb advice from you. Best wishes for the new year to all of you. Cheryl <Very sorry to read of the loss of your pets. Bob Fenner>

Black Moor Help Please... actually too crowded, mis-mixed...  12/30/2005 I have a 4 gallon tank with four fish. 2 Lionheads, a black moor and an angel fish. <Yikes... way over-crowded and mis-mixed...> The 2 Lionheads are ok, but there are problems with the two other ones. First the black moor. the black moor spends all its time in the bottom of the tank, hardly eating. Please tell me what to do. My angelfish just lays on his side at the bottom of the tank. I have very nice food and a good filter. What should I do? Help me my fish are dying!!!! <... likely your water quality/environment is at fault here... the system can't cycle the wastes your fishes are producing... the Angel needs to be in a different (tropical) setting, apart from the goldfish... Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm and the linked files above till you understand what you're doing, not doing here. Bob Fenner>

Pebble Stuck   12/28/05 Hi ya Wondering if you can help us.  We've got a goldfish called Flash.  Unfortunately, she has got a pebble stuck in her mouth.  The pebble is in the lower jaw (if that's what you call it) and her mouth is still opening and closing.  The fish is still feeding but is getting annoyed because she cannot get the pebble out.  She has been working on this problem for 2 days now.  We are getting very worried about her. Any suggestions ?  Is it a trip to the vets ? Cheers Alison >> I would take the fish with my wet left hand and use a blunt toothpick to see if you can push the pebble out. It will eventually cause an infection. Good Luck, Oliver

Goldfish Suffering   12/28/05 Hi, I have a 7 year old goldfish and have exhausted my own and local (good) resources. I am familiar with environmental care, etc. Due to poor water here (when I changed from a 20 gallon tank to two totaling 50 as the fish grew), I started using tap water. One tank was brought to  my home, the other left at my office. Those fish did great. In my home tank, growth was stunted, resulting in emaciation. It took more than a year to realize there was no solution due to poor water quality, so when one died (Popeye), I brought the second tank back to my office. Then the water quality at my office shifted (high in nitrates and ammonia from the tap!) and this one fish lost the ability to float. He looked happy and swam to the top to breathe, then bubbled back down. Lived that way for 8 months. Recently after the filter stopped from Anacharis that clogged the basket for a day (bio 330 for a 20 gallon, 4 goldfish totaling 10-12" in length), his fins started turning black (looking like gangrene). He was still okay. I treat with homeopathy and he was responding. Then another filter clog resulted in his body bending to one side. Still looked bright and a trooper, swimming (albeit with more difficulty) to the surface, still eating. I thought that would be it and he would die. He's hung on for a month or more this way. Another recent clog (just hours, yet he pays a high price), and weakness is gaining. I suspect it's the ammonia from the filter failures. Still swims to the top and eat though. One other thing. I had to resort to Amquel+ regularly for my fish to survive our Davis tap water months ago. It's been amazing, although I wonder about the overall impact. It's the best I can offer, and in general does not seem to be a problem, although it does slow fish growth. I've removed the plants that seem to die sooner than I return to my office and clog the filter. If there is anything left to try, or you have an idea about his bent body (stroke?), I'm open and would appreciate any ideas. I realize this is the point at which I need to seriously consider saying good-bye. Thanks. Sue < The stress from the high nitrates has your goldfish suffering. High nitrates in the California's central valley are well know by aquarists living there. Normally we would say do a water change but the nitrates in your area may already be around 50 ppm right from the tap. This is caused by years or agricultural run off. This relentless assault has your poor fish fighting for his life everyday. You have a few choices. Bottled/filtered water from retail water store. Lots of work moving heavy bottles. You could get a Reverse osmosis unit. This makes almost distilled water. Lots of them for sale on eBay. Not too expensive and the water is great for house plants too. Some chemicals claim to eliminate nitrates but I not seen any data to support this. Plants will absorb nitrates. Some people actually place houseplants like pothos in the top of the take. Eventually they developed roots and take some nitrates out of the water. If you choose to put him away them place him in a plastic bag with just enough water to cover him up and add a few Alka-Seltzer tablets to the water. The CO2 gases produced by the tablets will put him to sleep and then eventually kill him.-Chuck>
Re: Goldfish Suffering   12/28/05 Thank you, Chuck, for your prompt response! And, especially for the confirmation about water quality. So many people here said, No way. It's nice to hear my intuition is right. The two large tanks are at my office, so I don't have a water filtration option there yet have returned to bottled (even paying Alhambra to bring them in due to weight). We have a kitchen reverse osmosis at home.     May I ask just a bit more? < That's what we are here for.> I was wondering, if by the sound of it, the bent body/blackened skin (maybe ecchymoses from the horrible water, like people who bruise from smog and pollution), he may be unduly suffering. Have you experienced these conditions in a fish? < This is probably an internal and external bacterial infection caused by two different organisms. The nitrates probably inhibit some healing response.> And do you have a sense of why his body is now curled (overnight)? (I'm a homeopath--like a doctor and therapist combined--so am interested in case I can help with remedies.) A stroke as causation, versus intususseption, cramping, etc. would need a different remedy. <I think in is the bacteria in the gut feeding on an organ or the intestines causing the fish's reaction.> I did tonight create a sick tank (10 gal), with "spring" bottled water from the store, a BioWheel, plus underground filter & stones, and Anacharis to up the oxygen as much as possible and get rid of all other toxins as a last ditch effort. So I have tonight to see if he gets through, especially because the tank is just several hours new so that shock won't be good. Is it your opinion a fish this "disabled" should be released (euthanized) soon? I have never had a fish survive this long in such condition. < With internal infections, early treatment is the key to success. You will have to wait to see if you got it in time. You are doing everything right .> Also, re euthanizing, I read on the website that the toothache medicine with cloves was the preferred, and Alka-Seltzer is new to me. Is that more humane? (This is my most pressing question.) < I only know about the Alka seltzer and have no experience with the other.-Chuck> Again, I appreciate that you/others are there. Few understand how it's possible to give such importance to a fish's life (especially a "feeder" fish). I am a photographer and also do an art called SoulCollage, so for fun I've attached a SoulCollage of the fish that died--his/her actual photo in SoulCollage art. It's funny, when I took the photos of my aquarium last year, this one came out the best head on, and it turned out he was the one that died (I know because he had a small fin like Nemo.)~ Sue

Oranda's Wen Problems - II - 01/09/2005 Hello, I  wanted to thank Sabrina again for the GREAT advice about my Oranda. <Glad to be of service!> I fed him medicated food containing Nitrofurazone and the problem with his Wen cleared up. I bought a 37 gallon tank and started cycling it with my small goldfish by himself.   <Cycling with any fish is still damaging to that fish - I heartily recommend you keep ammonia and nitrite down with water changes.  Be testing regularly.> I had an ammonia problem in the 15 gallon tank where the Oranda was.  My plan was to fully cycle the 37 gallon and then transfer him over, but I just could not get the ammonia under control in the 15 gallon and transferred him early since the 37 gallon had a lower reading.   <Keep up with those water changes.  Try to locate some Bio-Spira to aid you in the cycle if you can't keep up.> I'm now second-guessing that decision as unfortunately, I'm now facing a different problem with the Oranda.  I went and bought a few "fish health" books and found a very accurate description of the problem under the category of bacterial diseases.  It said "occasionally bacterial infections will be localized and present as a group of raised scales.  Here infection has established in the scale pockets and has caused some individual scales to become more prominent.  This can progress to true ulceration."   <Under what particular bacteria was this listed?  There are many, many different disease-causing bacteria that can present themselves in home aquaria.> This seems to be exactly what is going on.  He was very happy in his new home at first but then he had a slightly reddened area on one side of his belly that has gradually swelled and pushed out just some of the scales.  He isn't all puffed out, like with dropsy, but there is a large red bulge pushing the scales out further and further each day.   <This does sound like trouble....> He has been eating well, medicated food <Active ingredient?> and some peas since he was a bit constipated, and was very active and back to his normal personality.  I thought I was on the right track.  But then yesterday he just didn't seem quite right.  He has been lethargic, sitting on the bottom, <Bad news.> he will come to the top to take food from me (he eats out of my hand!) but then he sort of lets himself fall back down to the bottom.  The ammonia fluctuates between 0 to .25 ppm, I've been testing it daily and doing water changes when it isn't zero.   <Ah, good.> I added some antibiotic to the water yesterday.   <What antibiotic?  And again, what active ingredient in the food?  Some antibiotics should not be mixed.> From what I've read, the antibiotics added to the water are not that effective <Often correct when dealing with freshwater fish.> and I'm very worried that he seems to be getting worse despite the fact that he has been eating medicated food regularly for the last couple weeks.   <Again, important to know these ingredients, and what specifically you are treating....> Another suggestion that I've come across is to give the fish an injection.  I've searched online for a vet that knows something about fish in my area, but haven't found one yet.   <Very, very difficult to find, actually - you'd be better off trying to locate a biologist at a nearby university that deals primarily with fish.> I'm wondering if I should really pursue this.   <If you can learn what specific bacteria are causing the infection, and can determine the proper treatment (a fish pathologist, or student of fish pathology, or perhaps other biologist specializing in fish might be able to help here) then injectible antibiotics are often effective.  For most aquarium applications, though, it's impractical.> I am willing to do just about anything to save this fish, he has become a part of my family. <Very understandable, and noble.> Any advice you could provide would be greatly appreciated.  Once again, thanks for your valuable time.   <Always glad to be of service.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Goldfish With problems  12/24/05 I just took another look at the spots on the fish. The one on the tail has "popped" and there is a slight tear in the tail where it was.  The spot on the bottom fin is now red and looks irritated. I think things are worse than I originally thought - is this the start of fin and tail rot?  I should mention that if I do need to medicate I have 2 large golden snails so I can't use something toxic to them (I don't know if the Fungus Clear that was suggested by the fish store is or not).  Thanks in advance for your help! < I am more convinced now than before you have a nitrate problem. The bacterial infection you are seeing thrives in water high in nitrogenous wastes. If the water changes don't help then treat with Nitrofuranace. Remove the Bio-wheel and the snails before treatment. At the end of the treatment replace the cartridge and put the bio-wheel and snails back in.-Chuck>
Goldfish With Problems II   1/4/06 Chuck, thank you so much for your help - my fish are fine now and I didn't need to use the medication.  The information you give on your site is so much better than anywhere else I have looked and I really appreciate it. < Thanks. We all try to do what we can.> To help me better understand for future reference - the nitrate level was listed as between 20-40ppm before I did the water change.  On the indicator box this level is listed as "safe".  Is this not true or is the indicator not all that accurate? < Not all fish have the same tolerances to nitrates. Some fish can take levels up to 100 ppm plus and show no effects at all. Other fish start to get sick at levels as low as 5 ppm. Most fish in the hobby can handles levels of at least 20 with 40 probably being the extreme upper limit.> Also why do you prefer Nitrofuranace (I have never heard of this) as opposed to Kanacyn or the Fungus Clear that was originally recommended to me?  Thanks again. < I have books that refer to actual testing done with Nitrofuranace on fish diseases. These tests have shown that this antibiotic is extremely effective against many different types of bacteria and even fungus. The only problem with it is that over many years it has been abused and many bacteria have become resistant to it. Now you can find spin offs like Furan-2. I get many fish from the wild and they have not been overly exposed by antibiotics.-Chuck>

Collection of Observations ... goldfish health 12/21/05 Crew, <Brandon> Let me start off by saying what a great site!  I applaud you for your hard work and patients while helping the rest of us be the best fish keepers we can.  Thank you! <Welcome> Please help me.  I am having problems with our goldfish tank.  I have come across many answers to these questions on your site, but didn't know if the collection of observations together meant anything different then when seen individually. <Let's see> Background: 29G Cold Water Planted Goldfish Tank (temp never goes below 68 degrees F even now during winter) Emperor 280 Filter Fluorescent Light ("normal" one that comes with the light strip/canopy combo) I use Jungle Lab's test strips once a week: ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrate = 20ppm, pH 7.8 (same as our tap water, I know this high but they have lived in it for years so I decided not to adjust it), Hardness (GH) = 150ppm (hard according to test), Alkalinity (KH) - 120 (ideal according to test). Water changes - 35% every weekend using a gravel washer, occasionally an additional 9% or 17% during the middle of the week.  Tetra AguaSafe water conditioner used during changes. Plants - Hornwort and Anacharis all growing very well.  The fish don't seem to like to eat the Anacharis, even if I pull some off and try to feed them. Feeding - Frozen Spirulina enhanced Brine Shrimp, Goldfish dried flakes, Hikari Oranda Gold, and thawed peas.  I don't have a set pattern of what type of food they get, other then the Spirulina Brine shrimp.  They get that just once a week (don't really know why).  I try really hard not to overfeed them.  For example with the Oranda Gold pellets they only get 12 for all three of them.  They eat two-three times per day.  I soak the flakes and pellets for 10 minutes in tank water before feeding them. 3 Fantail Goldfish (Body only measurements are 3", 2" and 1.5") I know their home is too small, but I don't have room for a bigger tank, and didn't know better when I started out 3 years ago with them. The ammonia and nitrite are always 0.  My guys were in a 20G (not my proudest moment as a fish keeper) 3 months ago.  Would love to move them to a 55G. My problems:  During the 3 years I have been caring for my goldfish I have never had a problem until recently.  The small fish suffers from swim bladder once a week.  He will be fine and then for one or two days he can't get to the bottom of the tank and when he stops swimming rises to the top.  He also has a white spot too big for Ich.  Sometimes it is easier to see then others, too.  The single spot is only at the end of his tail and is about the size of an "o" in 10 font.  My big guy is having trouble getting to the bottom of the tank as well.  He does not float to the top when he stops.  This is a first time for him just started this morning.  I've noticed every now and then the big guy has clear poop - looks like a clear gel air bubble the size of a piece of cooked rice. Tonight, in the filter strainer is a long wormlike (1.25 long) object.  It looks like a bamboo shoot in Chinese food, but more of a cloudy milky color.  The color get more transparent the closer to the opposite end you get.  Is this poop or maybe a worm?  There was a fourth goldfish in the tank but he passed away a month ago about a week after adding the live plants.  He quit eating and would just lay on the bottom trying to bury himself at the base of a plant.  My first thought was water quality, but once I tested it, the results were the same as above.  I then looked for signs of a parasite.  I didn't see anything but he was white; I might have missed it.  He got really skinny, and curled into a C position.  The rest all still have a healthy appearance and appetite three weeks later. All these problems started within a month and the only changes/additions are the live plants and adding the Brine Shrimp to their diet. I hope this note makes sense and you can point me in the right direction. Thanks again, Brandon <Thank you for writing... so clear and thorough... Your set-up, feeding, maintenance are near ideal... perhaps with the exception of so much dried food in your goldfish's diet. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm and the linked Related FAQs at top... and consider some of the foods as substitutes listed there. Bob Fenner>

Injured goldfish  12/20/2005 My 125 gal fish tank with eight beautiful fancy tails was doing very well with all living in harmony. I went to the fish store for my monthly needs and was talked into fresh water, tire tread eel. <... not a good mix... eat goldfish> He is beautiful, but within two days I woke up to find one of my infant goldfish without a tail and being cannibalized, of course by the other fish. He is now in his own tank and I am returning the eel to the fish distributor- as now this is what he is to me and not an expert in how to care and manage fish. <Well put> I read through many of your e-mails to others but. What do you suggest I do to save my little guy? <A bit of salt and time going by...> He is better each day but of course is not eating - he can't right himself as he hangs upside down. I want to get natural plants to put in with him if this will give him nourishment or do I end it right now" Will his tail grow back and how long will this take? <If not missing to too far an extent (back to hypurals, the base), it should regenerate in time... a few months> I have him in a goldfish bowl and keep the water changed - does he need heat ? <Not heat, but a relatively stable temperature. Bob Fenner> Kristiansson Roth PhD
Re: injured goldfish  12/21/05 Thank you - <Welcome> What do I feed him??? <Mmm, a mix of low protein food... floating or sinking pelleted foods (whichever level the fish is at) in small amounts, cooked rice, split frozen/defrosted peas...> He is better each day but of course is not eating - he can't right himself as he hangs upside down. Do I get natural plants to put in the tank with him that he can get into? <A very good idea, yes> Will this give him nourishment or do I end it right now" <I would not end anything... "the purpose of an infinite game is to keep the game in play" (Carse). Bob Fenner>

Need help my goldfish Oranda has I think dropsy Part 2  12/20/2005 Hello,   I was wondering if you can help me out with something. Am not sure if my goldfish Oranda has dropsy or not. His symptoms are:   Floating on the top of the tank, still eats regularly, lifeless sometimes, if you look close enough you can see the scales kinda popping out, and he's getting bigger.   <Mmm, yes... this is a "dropsical" condition...> Water quality:   Nitrate: 30 <A bit high> Nitrite: 3.0 <Three times more than toxic...> Total hardness: 200 Alkalinity: 180 Ph: 7.8 I'm not sure how my nitrite spiked. However, I recently moved so I had to empty out my fish tank and start it up again. It's been nearly a week already and those where my reading. I know I have to do water changes which I will do tomorrow, but please can you help me with my Oranda and his dropsy what do you recommend me doing? and what should I do? thanks you for your kind ASAP help.   Ryan <Help yourself... Please read on WWM re FW water quality, Nitrite, Cycling... Bob Fenner>

Goldfish, Reddish Growth, No Info -  12/19/2005 Hey Bob <Actually, Sabrina with you today.> My names Courtney and am very worried about my fish. <Courtney, please remember to use capitalization and punctuation - these emails get posted on our site and have to be "cleaned up", which takes a long time.  You can use a spell checker to help you with that.> This happened yesterday with this reddish growth thingy hanging from my fish's neck but it dropped off after a couple of hours, but it happened again today.  I want to know what to do because I really don't want to lose Bubbles (that's my fish's name) because he means the world to me and I've had him for about 18 months now. Please help me and tell me what to do.... <There's not enough information to help us, here.  With no information on the fish's aquarium and your maintenance of the tank, and also no information about the growth (what it looks like, etc.), there's nothing for me to tell you; there just isn't enough information to go off, here.  I would first recommend that you read here:   http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshdisease.htm and here:   http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm and the files linked in blue at the tops of those pages.> Yours truly,  -Courtney <Wishing you and Bubbles well,  -Sabrina>

Eyes of my goldfish... named Laura Mars?  12/18/05 Hi there. I have noticed both eyes of my goldfish (just a normal standard goldfish) have a white protruding spot attached to each eye which seems to be getting larger each day.   <Good description> I cant find any info on this, would you know what this is? Thanks for throwing some light on this! <Is very likely a reaction to declining "water quality"... ammonia, even low pH... you need to be checking for same, doing some partial water changes stat.! Bob Fenner>

Unknown Recurring Problem (goldfish health)  12/17/05 Hi Bob, <John>   Firstly may I say how engrossing your site is, I have spent many hours browsing & have learnt so much, however I have a recurring problem that I have not seen reference to & I hope you can offer some advice! <Will try>   Until a year ago I had never considered keeping fish, we had a couple of goldfish when I was a kid years ago but that was it until my girlfriends daughter went abroad for a month & asked me to look after her 3 goldfish, (2 comets & a common goldfish) in a small bowl. When she came back I held on to the fish, I don't think she really wanted them back & after several weeks of looking at them going up & down in that tiny space it wasn't fair & I decided to do something about it & bought them a 12" x 12" x 30" tank. <Good>   As they are orange I bought 2 yellow fantails & the 5 of them look  great together. I have a Fluval 3 filter, 2 airstone bubblers, plenty of growing plants & rock bridges for hiding places. I do a 30-40% water change weekly, <Mmm, better to limit this to no more than 25% at a given time...> test the water regularly & it is fine. I have stopped giving them dry fish food, they now have a diet of peas, brine shrimp, rice, sprouts, bloodworms & cooked egg yolk. They get a timed 8 hours of light a day. <Sounds very good thus far>   One of the original comets has a recurring problem, he gets a white spot on his tail & the tail is split near this point. At first I thought it was white spot disease, it was about the size of a grain of sugar & not diffuse like fungus but it didn't get worse & spread, there was no more spots on him, his behaviour didn't change & none of the other fish were affected. Nevertheless I treated the tank with Interpet Anti White Spot Plus as I couldn't find any other explanation. The small white patch didn't clear up like I would have expected it to if it was white spot, rather it just faded over several weeks almost as if it were a scar from a bite or a scrape but the split in his tail near this repaired itself within a few days. <I see>   Over the last 6 or 7 months this has happened three times, each time I have treated as if for white spot & each time it has disappeared gradually. The latest bout has just occurred & I am at a loss, incidentally he has the biggest & most delicate tail of the bunch so could it just be that he catches it or is being bitten? I have made sure there are no sharp objects in the tank that he could injure himself on.   Thanks for any help or advice you can offer & thank you for an excellent site!! Kind Regards, John. <Thank you. This is very likely either non-pathogenic and simply a recurring "break" in a soft fin ray (happens), or maybe an encysted worm or Sporozoan colony... At any length neither are "catching" nor treatable. I would not be concerned here. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Water seems ok but (moving older goldfish)  12/17/05 I moved. The fish were in the same place 10 years. I have a 40 gallon tank with 3 elderly goldfish between 9-20 years ago. <Neat> I saved 2/3 of the tank water, <Good> the stones, and left the air filter filled in the move. I only went a mile with the 3 fish in a large carrying case with their water and stones in it. When we got to the new house, I poured the water in with the stones and fish. I got the filter going. The 3 have been laying on the bottom since Dec. 1st. I have put tap water in to fill the tank. It's the same hard water as before. It's from the same water plant. I'm wondering if the pipes in this house make a difference. <Good question... they can indeed. Sometimes new copper, or even old/er with construction going on... can result in real troubles> I have tested for metals and conditioned the water. The test sticks show metal count is safe. Ammonia is fine, temperature is 70, pH is 7, nitrates and nitrite were within good limits on the Quick Dip Sticks. <This all sounds okay> I noticed the sides of the filter tubes where filled with brown gunk. I took the unit apart and the white filter was brown as were the pellets. I cleaned this stuff out which I imagined was too much Stress Coat added to the water along with Tank Buddies fizzy conditioning tablets, and Tetra's Easy Balance. Can I overdo the stress remedies? <Yes... easily. More aquatic life is likely "bumped off" due to treatment than due to disease> I replaced 1/4 of the water. They still lay there. However, they eat regularly. The one big fish seems to like being under the water fall (I might have broke his tail in the move. A fin ripped off.) The other fish with a bladder problem often lays on her side, and often on top of the air stone. (But she's active when it's mealtime.) The other fish has a big tumor(?) on her gill, but always seemed fine before the move. <Mmm, perhaps a bit of iodine (Lugol's would be my choice) added to the water weekly will dissolve this tumor growth> I just tried adding some aquarium salt to the tank. It says 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons for stress. I put in 8. So far nothing. They seem to like when I stir up the gravel and the tank gets cloudy....then they start swimming. But then it's back to the laying on the bottom. The manager at the fish store just thinks they are old and stress is hard on old fish. <I agree with this prognosis>   They have always been tough fish, never caring what I do with them. The only difference is the water source, which shows as hard on a test stick at about 300. I think that's still ok, right? <Likely this is TDS, Total Dissolved Solids... and this value should be okay> When fish are old and stressed, is it better to have the water less hard? <Mmm, not too soft, nor too hard... 200-300 is about right> What else can I do? Should I just leave them alone awhile? The laying around bothers me. Judith <I would "just leave them alone"... likely all will be fine in a week or two... The move itself is likely what "set them off", perhaps some release of wastes from same... but all should re-center itself soon. Cheers, Bob Fenner>
Re: Water seems ok but... older goldfish  12/18/05 Thank you for your help. The big fish went to being totally bent in half last night. He lost his buoyancy too. His tail was very red streaky. <Very bad...> I may have really injured it bad when I moved him to this new house. I noticed he had lost scales, and had some blood by his left side fin. I separated him and stayed with him, trying to help him out. He died though. He was 20 and about 12". <With beautiful translucent finnage...> The other fish with the bladder problem now looks ready to die. She does dart to eat, then quick lays down and stays down, mostly on her side. As last night, one fish lays on top of the other. That's when I found the big one almost dead. Now tonight, the one with the tumor was on top of the one with the bladder problem. I swished her away, and the bladder one looked dead. Then she darted fast away. What's with that laying on top each other? <"Friendship"... a liking, kinship borne of many years together. Not an anthropomorphism> I tested the water today. Everything is within healthy parameters, so I don't know what else they are dying from except stress, made worse by age.   <Likely so> Because the water seems OK, I bought a goldfish feeder to replace the dead fish, and maybe wake the other 2 up a little. <Will we be "woken up" similarly when we're advanced in age?> So far, they are still laying on the bottom. The bladder problem one seems to close 1 eyelid when he lays there.  There is a red film over his eye that pops up to show the black eye beneath it. <"We live, we die, no one knows why. We come, we go, we see the show. It's always moving..." Bob Fenner>
Re: Water seems ok but... older goldfish "We come, we go, we see the show." Right. However, all this started with this move. Still wonder if it's the water pipes. The last place had new pipes installed. This place is 55 years old.   <Shouldn't be an issue> The fish with the bladder problem is really quick when she wants to be. She does seem to chase away the little new fish I bought when it gets close. I take back that she's ready to die. She eats and swims a short time, rests a long time, then darts again. Laying on her side, if she's not dying, is a new one to me. She used to rest vertically all the time. What is you opinion of cutting off big tumors? <Not at this juncture. Would wait a few weeks post moving> I couldn't do it, but I guess it can to done. Safely? By a vet? This tumor covers her gill, but the gill still opens and closes. I think it has affected her eye, though. Eye looks blurred, different from the other. It's a cauliflower looking tumor the size of a dime. The fish is a pot bellied goldfish. Judith <Can, could be operated on surgically... Bob Fenner>

Older Goldfish, salt, blindness  12/20/2005 Thank you for the info on the salt. I bought some aquarium salt from the fish store and the salesman told me it was the same as the non iodized from the grocery store. <Some are, yes> I put it in the tank. Now I wonder if I shouldn't have. I am starting to think the fish with the tumor is blind. He doesn't seem to see food, nor my hand. I wanted to hand feed him. Usually he'd dart away. Is there something I could give him in a hospital tank for his eyes? Judith <Not as far as I'm aware. Blindness in fishes has several etiologies... pathogenic, nutritional, water quality... Bob Fenner>
Salt... and older goldfish When you refer to salt as in " Bacterial and fungal infections of goldfish are almost always indirect or secondarily caused by other factors, principally environmental or subsequent to parasitic attack. These are best "treated" with use of regular salt at the one teaspoon per five gallon rate and careful attention to aspects of husbandry (e.g. water quality). "...you are still referring to non-iodized, correct? Always? Judith <Best if this is synthetic salt mix, as in artificial marine aquarium mixes, not just sodium chloride... with iodide or no. Bob Fenner>

Poor little Sick Goldfish  12/17/05 Hey, calling from London UK.  Your site is incredible but I still cant find what I want.  I did send you something this week but there has been no answer.  I know you are all so busy.. Anyway, I hope you can help because no one else seems to.  Our normal little goldfish got a white spot on each eye - this was like a stuck on piece of white stuff (don't know how else to describe it).  I think it may have made him blind - not 100% sure though. <probably a bacterial infection...I would treat with MelaFix/PimaFix medications.> There are no other spots or cotton wool on him, so no fungus or anything.  He is gulping all the time though which is not right and today could not keep any food in, although he sort of tried a bit, which is definitely not right!   His top dorsal fin is down which I know is a sign of illness <not necessarily...some fish swim rapidly and there dorsal is down quite frequently...the cloudy/white eyes are the sure sign of illness here!> I had the water tested, its fine.  2 days ago we gave him Any ideas?   Please please respond to this one, its our 4th fish - all the others have died within months.  I am not sure I can go on!! <just treat with the above medications and make sure you maintain good water quality, good luck, IanB> Carolyn London UK

Goldfish... with goiter?  12/15/05 Hello, <Evening> I have a fantail, all of sudden last week it looked like he was choking and he was just sitting at the bottom of the tank.  Anyway I didn't like the way he was and took him to the vets, the vet gave him a antibiotic injection. After I got him home I noticed that his gill area is swollen ( I know fish don't have chins but it looks like his chin is swollen). <A good clue>   He still swims about as normal but he swims with his head up. sometimes jumping out as well as though he's catching something. After swimming about a bit he still sits at the bottom of the tank. I don't know what to do. ave checked the water and that's fine. is there anything I could give him? Please reply. Thank you Charlotte <Your fish may have an iodine deficiency... I would administer Lugol's solution... a stock solution at a drop per five gallons every three days for three doses, and place a drop on the fish's food for the same regimen. Additionally, a level teaspoon of Epsom Salt per five gallons of system water should be placed. Bob Fenner>

Please Try Using WWM - 12/13/2005 Could you please give me some advice - I have a gold fish and when I bought it a few weeks ago it was plain gold but now it has black spots. Do you know what could be wrong with it?  Thanks  -Bradley Holland <Please try reading our Goldfish Disease articles and FAQs, starting here:   http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshdisease.htm .  -Sabrina>

Oranda, Wen Problem, Disease? - 12/10/2005 Hi, I have a 2 yr. old Oranda with a fully developed Wen.  Over the last couple weeks I noticed bubbles, almost like blisters, on his Wen.  I also noticed that he seemed to have dark streaks in his eyes, almost like "veins."   <Possible that both of these problems are environmentally induced....> Over the last couple of days the blisters seemed to have burst and there are chunks of his Wen hanging off!   <Yikes!> It looks like his flesh is kind of chewed up.  I'm familiar with dropsy, septicemia, and fungal infections from other fish I have kept in the past and this does not resemble any of those.   He is in a 15 gallon tank with one other small goldfish.   <Far, far too small....  At two years, this animal should be large enough to be uncomfortable alone in the small confines of a 15g tank.  I do strongly encourage you to think about a larger system for these fish, that will allow a *minimum* of ten gallons per fish, preferably 15g per.  You might want to take a look here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm > The temperature is 69 degrees, Ammonia is at .25 ppm, <Get this to zero with water changes....> Nitrites 0 ppm, Nitrates 5 ppm, and PH is 7.4.  I have an undergravel filter as well as a hanging power filter which I change the cartridge on about every 3 weeks.  I also use a long air stone "column" for extra aeration.  I do partial water changes every 2-3 days.   <An excellent maintenance regime!> He will eat peas if I drop them down directly in front of him, but he is not as active as normal.  Any ideas on what could be wrong or what I can do to help him?   <I would be a little concerned at this point that there may be a bacterial infection involved....  Though the presence of ammonia is quite disconcerting, I'm not confidant that such a low level of ammonia alone did this.  I really would consider treating with Nitrofurazone or Kanamycin Sulfate.> Thanks so much for your time.  I've searched several websites and have found yours to be the most helpful over the years.     <Thank you very much for these kind words!> Nicole Frickelton <Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>
Oranda, Wen Problem, Disease? - II - 12/13/2005 You are absolutely the best!   <Wow!  I wouldn't go *that* far.> I appreciate all your help.   <Glad to be of service!> I purchased a 37 gallon setup yesterday <Holy Carassius!  Your fish are lucky to have such an awesome person.> as well as the meds you advised.  How long should I wait to transfer him over to the larger tank?   <Until it is cycled.  You can find lots of information about cycling a tank throughout our setup articles on WWM:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwsetupindex.htm .> Again, many, many thanks!   <Many, many thanks to you, for caring so much about the welfare of the animals in your care - and thank you also for your kind words!  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Humpty Dumpty Had A Great Fall....  12/10/2005 We have a fan-tailed goldfish "Max".  Max has been with us for about 3  years (Long for a regular gold fish, I thought) <Mm, no....  can live for decades.  Though three years is "long", compared to how they often end up, so you're off to a good start!> Anyway, we have always kept Max in the same small bowl (unfiltered) and fed him the same flakes for all 3 years.   <Okay, not off to a great start, then....> He's been seemingly fine. Until today, while cleaning his bowl,  which we frequently do. My wife dropped him to the floor from about 3 feet. <Yeeeeeeikes!> She put him back in the bowl and now he floats upside down, he is still breathing and can flutter about but he cannot right himself.   <Possible internal damage....  but could just be nutritional/environmental....  I'm sure it's due at least in part from the fall.> He doesn't float at the top of the water or sink to the bottom, he stays in the middle , he's just  upside down.   <Huh.  Quite odd.> I started doing research and found that we've been doing everything wrong that might cause "swim bladder" problems, but he was fine until the fall.  Do you think he is damaged for good? <Possibly, tough to say.  Is he eating?  Eating is invariably a good sign....  I wouldn't give up on this feller just yet.  My best buddy dropped her Betta once when she was moving him to a new tank....  grabbed him back up, and lost him again - in a shoe.  He recovered fully, after some minor bacterial infections, which cleared up....  I would keep up hope.  Uhh, and fix this fish's world, if in any way possible.> Or might he pull through?  What can I do to help him?   <Read here:   http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm  and here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm .> I thank you and my daughters thank you. <And we all wish you and your daughters and your goldfish all the best!  -Sabrina>

Goldfish Tales  12/12/05 Hello, I know that there has been questions asked with regard to torn tails but I am very worried as the case with my goldfish looks very serious. I had my goldfish for 3 years now and she had a beautiful long tail the length of her body. Unfortunately, she decided to jump out of her tank yesterday and while trying to return her back to her tank, her tail got split and torn really badly because she was struggling so much. Now most of her tail is gone and there appeared to be blood on the edge of the remaining part of her tail. She appeared to be swimming around and dancing for food as normal but I am very worried about her injury. Can goldfish survive this kind of ordeal? Is there anything I can do to help with the healing and to ensure that her tail does not get infected? Many thanks for your help, Connie <Just keep the water pristine with water changes and add a tbsp of salt for every 2 or 3 gallons. That should be enough to get some healing started. The tail may, or may not, regrow to it's former glory. Depends on how much was lost. Don> 

Goldfish, Sporozoan Infection? - 12/09/2005 Hi, <Hi, Jamie. Sabrina with you, today.> One of my goldfish has been sick with what I'm told might be a "Sporozoan" parasite. <Mm, not exactly common in captive bred aquarium fishes....> It developed a lump, which white stringy stuff came out of. After a few days, this lump literally fell off in front of my eyes, and clumps of white stuff was floating around the tank. <I would tend to think that the white stuff floating about the tank is unrelated - and that the lump/stringy stuff is more likely a symptom of a bacterial infection, or possibly even viral "carp pox".> I have now separated the sick fish to a quarantine tank, but I'm worried it might be too late and the other fish may have caught it. The sick fish occasionally goes for a swim, but is often sitting on the bottom of the tank - but has no more lumps however. <Good. I would first and foremost test your water and be certain to maintain ammonia and nitrite at ZERO, nitrate less than 20ppm, with water changes.> Do you think this diagnosis is correct, <Unlikely, in my mind.... however, without seeing a scrape under a microscope, there's really no definitive answer.> and if so could you tell me more about this parasite, <Sporozoan infections tend to cause a fish to be greatly emaciated, rather dark in color, and can manifest with lumps/growths, perhaps similar to what you describe. Ultimately, the Sporozoan can cause significant (usually irreparable) damage to internal organs. Suggested treatment for very isolated, minor cases is apparently Methylene Blue.... see here: http://www.fishbase.org/Diseases/DiseasesSummary2.cfm?discode=730 .> and what chance you think my fish have of surviving? Should I treat with salt? <Mm, I would add salt.... A tablespoon of "freshwater" aquarium salt per five or ten gallons.... and maintain optimal water quality, watch for any other symptoms.> Many thanks, -Jamie <Wishing you well, -Sabrina>
Goldfish, Sporozoan Infection? - II - 12/12/2005 Hi Sabrina, <Hi again, Jamie!> Many thanks for the reply. The fish died this morning unfortunately. <I am terribly sorry to hear this.> I will keep a close eye on the other fish. Ammonia is currently at 0, I don't have a test kit for nitrates and nitrates. <It would be a good idea to invest in test supplies for these as well; nitrite is quite toxic, and high nitrates can be partly responsible for problems in fish.> I hope you are right and that it's not the parasite, they sound nasty. <I heartily agree with you.> She did have dark patches on her however, and was starting to lose weight towards the end. <Though that does sound bad, I would at this point hope for the best - and keep a VERY close eye on the rest of your fishes.> Jamie <All the best to you,  -Sabrina>

Humpty Dumpty Had A Great Fall....  12/10/2005 We have a fan-tailed goldfish "Max".  Max has been with us for about 3  years (Long for a regular gold fish, I thought) <Mm, no....  can live for decades.  Though three years is "long", compared to how they often end up, so you're off to a good start!> Anyway, we have always kept Max in the same small bowl (unfiltered) and fed him the same flakes for all 3 years.   <Okay, not off to a great start, then....> He's been seemingly fine. Until today, while cleaning his bowl,  which we frequently do. My wife dropped him to the floor from about 3 feet. <Yeeeeeeikes!> She put him back in the bowl and now he floats upside down, he is still breathing and can flutter about but he cannot right himself.   <Possible internal damage....  but could just be nutritional/environmental....  I'm sure it's due at least in part from the fall.> He doesn't float at the top of the water or sink to the bottom, he stays in the middle , he's just  upside down.   <Huh.  Quite odd.> I started doing research and found that we've been doing everything wrong that might cause "swim bladder" problems, but he was fine until the fall.  Do you think he is damaged for good? <Possibly, tough to say.  Is he eating?  Eating is invariably a good sign....  I wouldn't give up on this feller just yet.  My best buddy dropped her Betta once when she was moving him to a new tank....  grabbed him back up, and lost him again - in a shoe.  He recovered fully, after some minor bacterial infections, which cleared up....  I would keep up hope.  Uhh, and fix this fish's world, if in any way possible.> Or might he pull through?  What can I do to help him?   <Read here:   http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm  and here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm .> I thank you and my daughters thank you. <And we all wish you and your daughters and your goldfish all the best!  -Sabrina>

Oranda, Wen Problem, Disease? - 12/10/2005 Hi, I have a 2 yr. old Oranda with a fully developed Wen.  Over the last couple weeks I noticed bubbles, almost like blisters, on his Wen.  I also noticed that he seemed to have dark streaks in his eyes, almost like "veins."   <Possible that both of these problems are environmentally induced....> Over the last couple of days the blisters seemed to have burst and there are chunks of his Wen hanging off!   <Yikes!> It looks like his flesh is kind of chewed up.  I'm familiar with dropsy, septicemia, and fungal infections from other fish I have kept in the past and this does not resemble any of those.   He is in a 15 gallon tank with one other small goldfish.   <Far, far too small....  At two years, this animal should be large enough to be uncomfortable alone in the small confines of a 15g tank.  I do strongly encourage you to think about a larger system for these fish, that will allow a *minimum* of ten gallons per fish, preferably 15g per.  You might want to take a look here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm > The temperature is 69 degrees, Ammonia is at .25 ppm, <Get this to zero with water changes....> Nitrites 0 ppm, Nitrates 5 ppm, and PH is 7.4.  I have an undergravel filter as well as a hanging power filter which I change the cartridge on about every 3 weeks.  I also use a long air stone "column" for extra aeration.  I do partial water changes every 2-3 days.   <An excellent maintenance regime!> He will eat peas if I drop them down directly in front of him, but he is not as active as normal.  Any ideas on what could be wrong or what I can do to help him?   <I would be a little concerned at this point that there may be a bacterial infection involved....  Though the presence of ammonia is quite disconcerting, I'm not confidant that such a low level of ammonia alone did this.  I really would consider treating with Nitrofurazone or Kanamycin Sulfate.> Thanks so much for your time.  I've searched several websites and have found yours to be the most helpful over the years.     <Thank you very much for these kind words!> Nicole Frickelton <Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Crack-head/Drunk-fish, and Thomas  12/5/05 Hey- I was just looking around the site for information on my fantails. I've had them since about 8th grade, for 5 years- three of them, two orange and one gray in a ten gallon tank... about 2-3 months ago, I noticed one of the orange fish's tail had white spots and red areas... so I looked it up online and deducted that it was fin rot... the only thing I could find to cure it was injecting antibiotics (yeah, right.. on a fish??) <<Oh yes, indeed!  Is/can be done.  Marina>> So I tried my own approach- I changed out the water, and added a few extra drops of my chlorine remover solution... within a few DAYS it went away and his fin rebuilt itself! I was very very proud! Then about 3 weeks ago I noticed that he started swimming around all funny (earning him the nickname crack-head/drunk fish) and would swim upright, but once he stopped swimming, he'd float upside down!  I assumed it was a swim bladder thing, and feared the worst. But he was fine! then about 4 days ago, the orange goldfish that had been healthy the whole time was floating at the top, and didn't move when I tapped the tank a little. So.. I was sad and went to Wal-Mart (where I got these 2) and bought a new little one along with a goldfish-water-safe algae eater. They all got along great until... crack-head/drunk fish died today. I'm kind of worried that all my older fish are dying so suddenly! Should I be worried about Thomas? (the gray one). He's been acting kind of lethargic lately, but swimming around fine. Also, about a year or 2 after I got the three original fish, Thomas got a bright red spot on the under side of his belly. Initially when I saw this I freaked out!  I thought it meant his was bleeding inside and was going to die! But he's been living with it for years now and hasn't gone away.. is it just discoloration?? Oh, and the smaller spotted fish that I bought after the first fish death has been chasing around the huge gray one... is he just trying to be obnoxious or is it a male? Thanks for the help, Jessica < Do a 30% water change, vacuum the gravel and clean the filter. Feed only once a day and only enough food so that all of it is gone after 2 minutes. Check the water chemistry. The ammonia and nitrites should always be zero and the nitrates should be under 25 ppm. This should prevent any ongoing or future problems. If your fish seem ok then any discoloration can be considered normal. Fish often establish pecking orders in a confined space like an aquarium.-Chuck>

New Goldfish Keeper Has Problems  12/5/05 Dear crew, Recently I got 4 Oranda goldfish (one grey and three gold). The first days they were fine, but these last days their behavior has been very strange. The grey one often floats on the water surface upside down.  And gets really upset when the others disturb him. The other three spend a lot of time still in the bottom of the tank. The curious thing is that when they are not doing these things they are quite active and playful with each other. < I think you are feeding too much. Only feed them once a day and only enough food so that all the food is eaten after two minutes. Remove any uneaten food after two minutes.> I noticed as well that they are getting white spots in their body... The tank has the capacity for 100 liters and it is almost full, it has a water filter and the water been mixed with a tab safer product. I feed them twice a day (early morning and late evening). What is going on?! What am I doing wrong? This is the first time I have fishes, please help me I don't know what to do. Many thanks Hereislana < The white spot are a parasite referred to as Ich. Do a 30% water change, vacuum the gravel, clean the filter and treat for Ich with a product called Rid-Ich by Kordon. Follow the directions on the bottle. This product will probably affect the bacteria that are responsible for reducing the waste products to a less toxic form. Watch for ammonia spikes during and after treatment.-Chuck> 

Goldfish Changing Color  12/5/05 I have just ordinary goldfish - just lost one. I've noticed that the two remaining fish seem to have several scales, around the tail area - but on the body of the fish, that appear to be changing from the ordinary orange of gold fish to a bright silvery orange; the scales do not appear to be protruding from the body of the fish. This same type of thing occurred with the fish I just lost and over a period of about a year, the silvery orange seemed to spread to almost cover his tummy area - just one side. Help me! I've checked so many web sites regarding fish and their problems, but just can't seem to find anything quite like I've described above. Will you answer me directly or do I have to check your web site for the answer. Many thanks, Doris < This could be a normal color change or a disease. Check the water chemistry. The ammonia and nitrites should be zero. The nitrates should be under 25 ppm. As a precautionary measure I would recommend a 25% water change, vacuum the gravel and clean the filter. If you really think they are sick then I would try Nitrofurazone. It is an antibiotic that treats a wide range of diseases and is also an antifungal as well.-Chuck> 

Help for Edgar  12/7/05 Hi! Hope you can help.  <Will try. You don't seem familiar with the shift key on the keyboard. It makes some letters capital. We post all our replies on a website. To facilitate easy reading, we have to correct all emails that come in.>  <<Or, being ruthless as I have become, we send them back with a link to the Queries Corrections page, where folks learn how to send in queries.  Thank you for retyping, I'm sure it took a bit of time.  Marina>> I purchased two black moors two days ago along with a new tank.  <How big is the tank?> One is fine and healthy the other appears to be sick. He has a trail of silver hanging from one gill he was holding his fins against his body. Although seems better now, he spends a lot of time isolated in one corner at the bottom of the tank but becomes more active upon feeding. <Eating is a good sign. What are you feeding them?> I purchased Protozin but not sure if this will help. I have also been told to remove him from the tank and place him in a bowl of salt water. Is this a good idea? I don't want to stress him more than he already has been. <Treating a fish for an unknown disease is not a good idea. First you have to pinpoint the disease and then you can treat it. In this case, your tank is probably has "new tank syndrome". It hasn't cycled yet. For more information about cycling and goldfish systems, please read http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwestcycling.htm  and http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm. In the mean time, do 50% water changes with dechlorinated water daily. Let us know if you have more questions. Best of luck. Catherine> 

Goldfish, Nutritional and Environmental Disease - 12/07/2005 Hi there, <Hi, Courtney.> Yesterday my little black fantail goldfish quite suddenly developed an over-buoyancy problem. He lives alone in a gallon bowl and has seemed very healthy up to the present.  <This bowl is far, far too small for a goldfish to remain healthy....> When I saw him struggling yesterday, I scoured the internet for help. I fed him a pea as suggested on your site. Following a suggestion from another page, I sprinkled a FEW crystals of Epsom salts in the bowl and poured about 1/3 of the water out to make it easier for him to swim to the bottom to eat the pea. Within a couple of hours he was swimming normally.  <Almost definitely this is nutritional and/or environmental....> This morning (about eight hours later) I checked him and found that he was trailing grey strands of something from his body. He is swimming fine and seems alert and hungry. At first I thought the strands were feces but upon inspection they look like they are attached to his fins. Is this some kind of a stress reaction to what happened yesterday?  <Too little information, I fear.... But again, likely this is something environmentally induced.> Or did the Epsom salts affect the pH of the water <Unlikely. Test the pH, if you're concerned.> and is that causing these weird stringy things?  <Again, unlikely. But there's just not enough information about your system to make a good guess at this point.> The fish's scales and eyes appear normal. Thanks in advance, and I am sure that your advice saved my poor little fish yesterday. <I can't tell you how delighted I am that we were able to help you with the information archived here! Thank you very much for sharing this with us. I would like to recommend a few articles for you to read to give you a bit more of a "feel" for your goldfish's condition.... http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm , http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshdisease.htm , and http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm . Hopefully those will help you get your bearings a little more!> --Courtney <All the best to you and your goldfish, -Sabrina>

Treating Ich On Goldfish  12/03/05 Hi Bob again, I am very sorry to bother you again with my question about Ick. I used the Malachite Green and I guess it did not work on the fish ( it was all covered with Ick by the time I used it) so only one survived - My Black Moor plus my bottom feeder. Now, few weeks after the last signs of Ick disappeared, it came back again. This time I decided to treat my main 50 gallon aquarium with Ick Guard by Jungle Labs. They say, that I could use it use it over again every 24 hours after a 25% water change. How long would you recommend for me to treat it? I do not want to kill my last fish and I am scared that the medication is very strong. Thank you for your reply! Iana <The best treatment for Ich is malachite green in a combination with formalin. Kordon sells this combination as Rid-Ich Plus. Malachite green can be effective but it is harmful to some scaleless fish. You need to read the directions on the bottle and see if there are any warnings or cautions listed. If not, then I would treat as recommended but watch the fish closely for signs of stress.-Chuck> 

Goldfish With Bacterial Infections  12/03/05 My goldfish is really swollen and she doesn't have many scales, but the ones that she has are standing out just a little, not a lot. She also has a red spot under her skin on her belly. I've never noticed it before today. Could she have dropsy or could it be that she's having trouble spawning. < You goldfish is suffering from and internal and external bacterial infection. Do a 30% water change, vacuum the gravel and clean the filter. Treat with a combination of Metronidazole and Nitrofurazone. The Metronidazole will treat the internal bacteria while the Nitrofurazone will treat the external bacterial infections.> I've already separated her from the rest of the fish. I didn't really notice if she lost appetite before. Today I put some food in her tank and she didn't eat any of it. < Take it out so it does not pollute the tank.> She sits at the bottom of the tank but she's able to move. Once in awhile she'll go around touching the bottom of the tank with her mouth. There's no rocks at the bottom it's empty and she doesn't open her mouth as if to say that she's looking for food. If you could help me with this it would be great. Thank you. < Next time please take the time to check your grammar and spelling. We post these on our web site and need to have them ready so we can answer more questions and not take up our time correcting English. Occasional typos happen all the time and those are no big deal, many crew members simply refuse to answer if the grammar is too bad.-Chuck>  <<Chuck, I must thank you also for sorting the mess that showed up underneath this message, talk about loaded with code!  (And as you know, someone deleted those helpful emails a couple of nice fellows had sent us in an effort to help me, and I've really needed them on a couple of occasions!  Marina>>

Sickly Bubble-eye Follow-up 12/3/05 <<<Unable to find previous correspondence....  -SCF>>> Thanks and I will try this. She is still on her side this morning, but hanging in there. <Keep us posted! Good luck with her. Catherine> 

Shubunkin Not Responding To Medication  12/1/05 <<<Unable to find previous correspondence....  -SCF>>> Hi Chuck, I am still needing help. I have gone thru two treatments with the Furanace and my Shubunkin is still sick? What can I try next? Thanks so much, Cindy Simmons < Try a different antibiotic like Kanamycin. If this doesn't work then it may not be bacterial like I assumed and it could be protozoal. If this doesn't work then switch to Clout.  -Chuck> 

Blind goldfish and no punctuation - 11/28/05 Hi Bob, <Hi Sharon... You got John today. Unfortunately I have to remind you to use punctuation and proper spelling in your messages. In over 150 words there was only a single full-stop. This makes it very difficult to read and respond to, and we cannot post it online. As we do not have enough time to correct all such e-mails, I would appreciate it if you could take the time to punctuate your message and re-submit.> <<Dear lord, not to mention the cacophony of "i's" we've got going on here.  Marina>> I have read a lot of the FAQs but can not seem to find an answer to the problem I have with my gold fish I have seven all of the same breed non mixed all are ok except one.  It appears to have a white film over his eyes looking as if he is blind, he is also smaller than (the) rest.  (He) may be not to eating well as he cannot find the food.  When I feed them he swims around ok but will sometimes stay in one the place until disturb(ed) by myself when I take the lid off to feed.  My other fish do not have this problem and are definitely bigger.  Is there any information you can give me on this as he looks so sad?  I have tried to take a couple of pics but my camera (is) not really that good but you can see the problem with him hope you can help. <<No photos found, John is new just this weekend and still needs to learn the "hows" of WWM.  Marina>> <<<And he's learning quickly!  A real delight to have with the Crew.  Thank you for your input/help, John.  -SCF>>> <It is hard to tell from the pictures, but cloudy eyes could be a result of any number of factors. Can you see any other signs of disease on the fish?  The first thing to do would be to check water parameters - ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. The first two should be zero, and nitrates should be as low as possible. A small amount of aquarium salt in the water should also help your goldfish fight the symptoms. This and much more may be found in the Goldfish Disease FAQs on WWM.> Best Regards Sharon <You too, John>

Sickly Bubble-eye Goldfish  11/30/05 Today, I noticed our bubble eye goldfish has become sickly. When I went home for lunch, (s)he was kind of laying on her side and our algae eater was stuck to her, however, there is no algae on the bubble eye.  <What kind of algae eater? Not one of those evil Chinese or golden algae eaters? They like snacking on fish slime layers -- not good for the snack.>  So, I was able to get the algae eater off of the bubble eye, and (s)he just kind of floated on her side. One of her eyes (not the bubble) looks cloudy. She also looks as if she's gasping for air. I'm wondering what possibly could be wrong. <<The water may have a low O2 saturation, too much ammonia, or a combination (not to mention how ammonia can interfere with uptake of O2 by hemoglobin.  Marina>>  Our fish is about 6" long and is about 1.5 years old and has been very healthy to date. However, last night, our power went off for an hour and a half due to an ice storm. The temperature didn't change in the house though. The bubble eye is in a 10 gal tank. We have two small tetras in there also and our algae eater which is about 6" long, too. Any suggestions? <Goldfish are really messy fish; that is they poop a lot. Cloudy eye(s) are a result of a bacterial infection, generally caused by less than ideal water quality. Pick up a test kit and check the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. They should be 0, 0, and less than 20. To keep ideal water quality, most folks find a 6 inch goldfish minimally needs a 30 gallon tank. Many algae eaters and essentially all tetras prefer water at about 79F while goldfish like water closer to 68F. That means they don't mix well together, in general.  Over the long term, fish at the improper temperature often have a shortened lifespan and are more susceptible to disease. So, I have a couple of ideas. Over the next few days, do a few large water changes to improve water quality (hopefully your goldfish will clear up with no meds). If you aren't feeding the algae eater, give him/her peeled peas or other sliced veggies (take leftovers out 12 hours later). Commercial algae pellets are also good food for them. Unless the algae eater is tiny, most 10 gallon tanks can't support them without extra food. Your goldfish needs a new, larger home, so you can easily separate the goldfish from the others when you upgrade. Hope this helps. Catherine>  

New Print and eBook on Amazon Goldfish Success What it takes to keep goldfish healthy long-term by Robert (Bob) Fenner